DOVER TOWN WALLS

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Medieval town walls, probably 14th century in date. No structures survive above ground. Murage grants were issued between 1324 and 1483.

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It is probable that Dover was not walled until the 14th c as no
repairs to the gates are recorded until the 15th c. (1) Sites
of gates were as follows:-
['A' TR 32264147] Easterbrook Gate (TR 34 SW 188) [GT] (Site of) (2)
['B' TR 32184140] St Helen's Gate (TR 34 SW 189) [GT] (Site of) (2)
['C' TR 32114133] Conjectural site of Postern or Fisher's Gate
(TR 34 SW 190) (3)
['D' TR 32074130] Butchery Gate (TR 34 SW 191) [GT] (Site of) (2)
['E' TR 32014126] Boldware Gate (TR 34 SW 192) [GT] (Site of) (2)
['F' TR 31894119] Snar Gate (TR 34 SW 193) [GT] (Site of) (2)
['G' TR 31874122] Adrian Gate (TR 34 SW 194) (3) More correctly
Upwall Gate (1) (Site of)
['H' TR 31824136] Cow Gate (TR 34 SW 195) (Site of) (3)
['J' TR 31824143] St Martin's Gate (TR 34 SW 196) (Site of) (3)
['K' TR 31874153] Biggin Gate (TR 34 SW 197) [GT] (Site of) (2)
['L' TR 32074143] Foundations of tower found.
Probable site of gate (3) at Dolphin Lane.
Course of wall shown (3). There is no evidence that these it overlay
the defences of the Saxon Shore Fort. [See TR 34 SW 2]
(1-4)

There are no traces of wall or gates. Tablets mark the sites of
Snar Gate, Cow Gate, and Biggin Gate. Where Wheelers' plan (auth 4)
differs from Batchellers' plan (auth 3) between Snar Gate and Cow
Gate, Wheeler is probably in error. (5)

During building clearance in 1962, foundations of the town wall were
encountered along the S side of Townwall Street, from the River Dour
to Newbridge. Walling, 6-8 ft thick, of chalk block, flint and mortarwas exposed. The S face was heavily waterworn. At Newbridge, the
wall turned S through 90 degrees for about 15 yds and then
disappeared westwards under Newbridge by turning through another
right angle. Foundations of Butchery Gate were encountered on the
W bank of the Dour. The area has now been redeveloped. (6)

(TR 3141) Town Wall, Dover.
(Murage grants testify to the construction of Medieval walls between
1324 and 1483). Nothing now remains of the defences, whose extent
is known from plans only. The southern line appears to have run
from a point east of Eastbrook gate "across the former Woolcomber
Street" along Town Wall Street and Snorgate Street, turning north to
cross Ardian Street; there were three gates in the western wall,
which curved east over the Folkestone road to cross Canon Street and
then turned south through Pencester Gardens to return to the southern
wall. Nothing remains above ground today, but even Leland seems to
have been uncertain whether the town was completely walled. (7)

SOURCE TEXT

( 1) General reference

Hist of Dover 1899 62-4 (SPH Statham)

( 2) Ordnance Survey Map (Scale / Date)

OS 1:1250 1957-62

( 3) General reference

Dover Castle 1853 15-19 (plan) (W Batcheller)

( 4) Royal Archaeological Institute The archaeological journal

(EGJ Amos and REM Wheeler) 86 - 1929 Page(s)47,58

( 5) Field Investigators Comments

F1 ASP 22-MAY-64

( 6a) Oral information, correspondence (not archived) or staff comments

( 6b) Oral information, correspondence (not archived) or staff comments

( 6) Field Investigators Comments

F2 ASP 03-JUN-64

( 7) by Hilary L Turner 1971 Town defences in England and Wales: an architectural and documentary study AD 900-1500

1971 Page(s)155

RELATED MONUMENTS

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Monument Name/No

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Description

MONUMENT NO. 468074
DOVER

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Easterbrook gate

MONUMENT NO. 468075
DOVER

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St Helen's Gate

MONUMENT NO. 468076
DOVER

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Fisher's Gate (site of)

BUTCHERY GATE
DOVER

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Medieval gate tower and water gate, no surface remains survive.

BOLDWARE GATE
DOVER

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Medieval water-gate, no surface remains.

MONUMENT NO. 468079
DOVER

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Snar Gate

MONUMENT NO. 468080
DOVER

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Adrian Gate

MONUMENT NO. 468081
DOVER

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Cow Gate

MONUMENT NO. 468082
DOVER

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St Martin's Gate

MONUMENT NO. 468083
DOVER

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Biggin Gate

MONUMENT NO. 468084
DOVER

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Gate at Dolphin Lane

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